Interim Priest in Charge of the Parishes of Stainland and Outlane (and subsequently also the Parish of Greetland & West Vale)

Introduction

Overview

These parishes are located in the Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, between Halifax and Huddersfield. There are excellent road links via the nearby M62, and further afield via the M1/M6 motorways. Rail links via the Calder Valley line link Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester, and onwards via the national network. For domestic and international air travel, Leeds/Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport are both under an hour away by road.

We are looking for a priest who is committed to helping our churches to grow in numbers, in spiritual commitment to God and in service to the local community as we deepen and strengthen the relationships across our benefice of 2 churches, and prepare to join with a third parish in around 18 months.

In return we will offer you our support, prayers and practical help from the multi-talented people in our congregations and community, who are welcoming, passionate, creative and friendly.

The closing date for this post is 19^th July 2024

Interviews are expected to be held on 31^st July 2024

If you require further information including copies of the accounts or would like a conversation about this post please do not hesitate to contact The Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax by email initially on archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org . He will then arrange to have a telephone or Zoom conversation with you. 

Post Introduction

The churches of St Andrew, Stainland and St Mary Magdalene, Outlane are well established as a benefice and seek to reach out into their communities with the love of God. The intention is that the Parish of St Thomas, Greetland & West Vale will join when their current parish priest retires in late 2025. The parishes are seeking a parish priest who will bring fresh vision and a commitment to work collaboratively, and lead the churches together in mission and growth. The congregations want to further develop their relationships, mission and ministry across the community, and to grow their congregations in number, depth and engagement.

Main Responsibilities

We are looking for a priest who will:

• deepen the worship, teaching and outreach of the churches and congregations
   
• be a confident leader in church and community, able to engage with all;
    
• communicate well and inspire faith; encouraging all to deepen their relationship with God, 
   
  
• inspire a particular focus on children, young people and families, including maintaining and deepening links into local schools;
    
• deepen relationships between the churches, including building the relationship between the Stainland & Outlane parishes and the parish of Greetland & West Vale, in preparation for the parishes coming together following the retirement of the current priest in charge of Greetland & West Vale.

Please see the Person Specification attached for further details of the essential and desirable qualities we are seeking in relation to this post.

About Us

 The Anglican Diocese of Leeds comprises five episcopal areas, each coterminous with an archdeaconry. This is now one of the largest Dioceses in the country and its creation in 2014 is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England. It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles with a population of around 2,642,400 people. The Diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury), market towns (Todmorden, Harrogate, Skipton, Richmond, Ripon and Wetherby) and deeply rural areas especially in the Dales. The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world. 

 Five area bishops (Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Ripon and Wakefield) and five archdeacons (Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Richmond & Craven, and Pontefract) assist the Diocesan Bishop (The Rt. Revd Nicholas Baines) 

 This Benefice lies in the Brighouse & Elland Deanery of the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, in the Archdeaconry of Halifax. The Bishop of Huddersfield is Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam. The Archdeacon of Halifax is The Venerable Bill Braviner. 

 Our vision as a Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith and with a commitment to church growth both numerical and spiritual.